Mystery of missing clerk grows deeper; money disappears from hometown
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The Mullinville Community Foundation has the same address as a grant consulting business, Clutch Professionals, registered Aug. 15, 2022, with the secretary of state as being founded by Clayton and a partner, Braxton Hutchinson.
Its corporate registration expired April 15 after the partners failed to make required reports to the secretary of state.
Besides having the same business address as Clutch Professionals, Mullinville Community Foundation’s 2022 annual report lists Clayton as a foundation board member.
When Clayton and Hutchinson opened their business, both were employed by Commerce. Clayton worked for the agency from Feb. 23, 2020, until Nov. 20. Hutchinson has worked for Commerce since April 17, 2002, and is still employed there.
The suit against Mullinville Community Foundation
According to a complaint filed against Mullinville Community Foundation, Commerce gave the foundation four notices — June 30, July 2, July 8, and July 16 — to correct grant defaults.
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The complaint says Commerce thinks the community foundation is in possession of $211,251.67 in unexpended grant money.
Money allegedly is missing from from more than the foundation.
Mullinville Cemetery Board President Max Liggett said board members were reviewing records of withdrawals from its bank account that go back to 2021.
At that time, Clayton and his husband, Peabody city council member Christopher King, lived in Mullinville and were remodeling a house, Liggett said.
Thefts from the cemetery board, of which Clayton is a member, came to light about two weeks ago.
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At the time Clayton and Hutchinson registered Clutch Professionals as a business entity, Clayton was a regional project manager for Kansas Department of Commerce.
